Red Centre & Uluru Explorer

6 Days | First Nations culture and true outback wonder of Australia

4.8 out of 5 based on 26 reviews submitted.
Explorer
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USD $2,040
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Spend six days exploring the best of Australia’s Red Centre on a culturally rich and naturally wonderful small group adventure. From Yulara, admire Uluru at a number of times during the day, seeing the colour of this sacred rock change as day turns to night. Explore the depths of Kings Canyon, Kata Tjuta National Park and the West MacDonnell Ranges, stopping by gorges and pristine waterholes for a walk and swim. With First Nations culture, comfortable accommodation and a knowledgeable leader, this Red Centre adventure is the whole package.

Trip overview

Map of Red Centre & Uluru Explorer including Australia
Start
Uluru , Australia
Finish
Alice Springs, Australia
Theme
Explorer
Destinations
Australia
Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Style
Original
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1 - Max 16
Trip code
POKR
We’re in the process of figuring out how much CO2-e this trip generates. In the meantime, find out more about our climate commitments and carbon reduction target.

Why you'll love this trip
  • See the sacred wonder of Uluru at multiple angles and at different points of the day. Embark on a walk around its base, and enjoy a spread of locally sourced produce at sunset, watching the rock change as dusk breaks.
  • Gaze up at the constellations on a special stargazing experience and bush tucker dinner. The night sky comes alive in the Red Centre, with no pollution to impede your view.
  • Tour a wide range of landscapes around the Red Centre, including the West MacDonnell Ranges and Kings Canyon.
  • Hike through the otherworldly Walpa Gorge and to several viewpoints for spectacular vistas of Kata-Tjuta, the towering domes that form something akin to a forest of rounded rocks.

Is this trip right for you?
  • For the first two nights of this trip, your accommodation is in a permanent tented camp. This isn't the most basic camping experience, as you'll have beds with bedding and linen, electricity, and cooling fans inside your tent. Please note that facilities are shared with others at the campsite, including toilets and shower blocks, which are a short walk from where we camp.
  • If you are looking for a shorter, camping-only trip, you might like to consider our 4 day Uluru & Kings Canyon Adventure. Search for trip codes PZRC on our website.
  • Temperatures in the Red Centre can be extreme. During the day the weather can be very hot (and the Australian sun is very strong) so please bring appropriate clothing, use sun protection and drink plenty of water. In the evenings temperatures really drop, so bring base layers and warm clothing, including to sleep in.
  • On some days of the trip, you’ll spend many hours driving through very sparse areas of Australia. Sit back and enjoy landscapes that you would miss in any other form of travel. Think of it as a great way to get to know your fellow travellers. The drive days can be long, but it’s as much about the journey as the destination, and half the fun is the camaraderie.

Itinerary

This itinerary is valid for departures from 01 April 2023 to 31 March 2024.

View the itinerary for departures between 01 April 2024 - 31 March 2025

Map of Red Centre & Uluru Explorer including Australia

Inclusions

Meals

3 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 1 dinner

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Permanent furnished tented camp (with shared facilities) (2 nights), Hotel (3 nights)

Activities
  • Uluru - Uluru Sunset with Snacks
  • Uluru - Outback BBQ Dinner
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Kata Tjuta Walpa Gorge Walk
  • Uluru - Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park pass
  • Kings Canyon - Kings Canyon sunset viewing
  • Uluru - Base Walk
  • Uluru - Uluru Sunrise
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Cultural Centre
  • Watarrka National Park - Karrke Aboriginal Cultural Experience (except Nov-Jan)
  • Watarrka National Park - Kings Canyon Rim Walk
  • Tjoritja-West MacDonnell Ranges - Ellery Creek Big Hole
  • Tjoritja-West MacDonnell Ranges - Ormiston Gorge
Add on activities
  • Uluru - Uluru Bike Ride - AUD50
  • Uluru - Uluru Segway Tour - AUD180
  • Uluru-Kata Tjuta National Park - Field of Light - AUD46

Dates and availability

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Important notes

1. This trip starts in Yulara with a Welcome Meeting at Day 1 at 5pm in the reception of Desert Gardens Hotel.
2. For those arriving into Alice Springs, we offer a transfer to Yulara at 9:30am on Day 1 from Stay at Alice Springs Hotel. To book, contact your booking agent no later than 7 days prior to your trip.
3. This trip finishes in Alice Springs on Day 6. You are free to depart on any time on this day. Accommodation is not included on this day but can be booked on request.
3. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability.
4. The Field of Lights is a popular optional activity enjoyed by many visitors to Uluru and is not included on this trip. To avoid disappointment, ensure you pre-book this activity prior to travel through Ayers Rock Resort. Bookings should be made for Day 2 for 7:15pm

Essential Trip Information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

Read Essential Trip Information

Reviews

4.8 out of 5 based on 26 reviews submitted.
Reviews are from travellers who have completed their trip and want to share their experience. We show all reviews, but may remove any that include profanity or inappropriate content, are unrelated to the trip or reveal personal details.

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Trisha · Traveled September 2023
I loved this trip to the heart of Australia. It was a perfect time to visit as it was so hot, and you could still relax by the pool between hikes and adventures to the various destinations. It was a wonderful trip to experience what the Red Centre offers, an extraordinary place!
Review submitted 26 Sep 2023

Raoul · Traveled August 2023
Our red centre trip was great. Whilst what we saw was amazing our enjoyment was significantly enhanced by our guide, Mon. Her knowledge of sights and indigenous culture really made a difference.
Review submitted 27 Aug 2023

Cassandra · Traveled May 2023
This trip was phenomenal - I absolutely loved it. The destination of course stands on its own merits and would be amazing to visit with or without a tour group. It is a stunning part of the world and there is so much to learn in this region. My favourite day was the King's Canyon rim walk. Our guide, Mark, added so much value to the trip. His knowledge of the local region, people, culture, history, geography and geology was excellent and he imparted it all with no small dose of comedy. He made sure everyone had a good time and was able to participate in everything that they wanted to. The camp manager for the first two days, Ryan, was equally excellent, making sure that everyone had enough to eat and that dietary requirements were all taken care of. Most of our previous trips have been self organized. This time I was travelling solo and I very much appreciated the chance to just let someone else take care of the itinerary, accommodation, transport, activities and most of the food. I loved the opportunity to get to know the 13 other members of the tour group, and appreciated how open everyone was to chatting and sharing the experience. I arrived in Alice Springs 3 days before the trip and would recommend this. At the end of the tour I was pretty tired and was glad I had opted for "before" days instead of "after" days. In terms of weather, I felt this time of year (May) was pretty perfect. It was chilly in the mornings but 21-23 during the day most days. Overall it was an amazing experience and I'm so glad I did it.
Review submitted 25 May 2023

CAMERON · Traveled April 2023
The Red Centre and Uluru tour is a fantastic way to see the highlights of this area of Australia in a short time. You get a deeper appreciation and understanding of the Aboriginal history and culture, and see some of the most stunning scenery and landscapes. Our guide was fantastic and the accommodation was all nice (including the camp sites).
Review submitted 04 May 2023

Tracy · Traveled April 2023
Our trip was very good as we had a great group of people and an excellent guide. But I do not feel that this was due to Intrepid’s organisation as it was all due to our fabulous guide who is not usually an Intrepid employee. The accommodation on the first 2 nights was horrible as the tent was very basic and mouldy. I would not recommend Intrepid but I would recommend RockStars NT which is our guides own tour company.
Review submitted 02 Sep 2023
Red Centre & Uluru Explorer
From
USD $2,040